Navigating through the healthcare system with atopic dermatitis: Analysing patient journeys in Germany.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD), which can significantly impact quality of life, is a complex, heterogeneous skin disease affecting all ages and therefore can lead to very different patient journeys. Understanding the patient journey within the healthcare system is essential for improving care outcomes.

Objectives: To explore the patient journey of individuals with AD in Germany, with a specific focus on the utilization of Internet resources throughout this process.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted from June 2021 to February 2022. Participants were recruited from dermatology private practices, a university hospital and online platforms.

Results: The study included 276 participants (62.3% female; mean age: 46.3 ± 18.4 years; mean disease duration: 26.9 ± 17.5 years; mean DLQ Index: 10.0 ± 5.6). Around 191 participants were currently receiving medical treatment, with 9.1% receiving biologic therapy. Most of the people initially contacted a GP (42.4%) and were diagnosed by a dermatologist first (57.6%). Around 47.1% were currently in treatment by a dermatologist, seeking dermatological care on average 4.5 times a year. Almost all individuals (86.2%) have already consulted more than one physician during their patient journey. Overall, participants consulted a median of five physicians, while those with severe AD consulted a median of six physicians. Initial symptoms to diagnosis and between consulting two different physicians both had a median duration of 6 months. Dissatisfaction with treatment outcomes emerged as a common reason for changing physicians. Approximately 76.4% of participants used the Internet for disease-related information, primarily relying on Google. Overall, 63% found the information quality unsatisfactory.

Conclusion: The study underlines the widespread utilization of medical treatment and the proactive healthcare-seeking behaviour during a long patient journey. Dissatisfaction with treatment outcomes, alternative medicine and the quality of the Internet sources emphasize the potential for improving the comprehensive disease management to improve care outcomes.